Behind The Veil

We speak to Tom Chelednik - The Associate Director of Vendor Engagement about the 2026 Real Wedding Study that was just released! The Knot Worldwide (TKWW) released its 2026 Real Weddings Study, which offers one of the most comprehensive looks at how modern couples are planning for, spending on, and celebrating one of life’s most meaningful moments. Drawing on insights from more than 10,000 U.S. c...

  This special Episode I am a guest on the AMAZING BrideChilla podcast.  If you haven't listened to it, you should.  Check out all of their podcasts at  http://thebridechilla.com   Join Leah and luxury event planner ⁠Keith Willard⁠ for a deep dive into the craft of unforgettable wedding planning. From organizing childhood penny drives to collaborating with industry icons like Colin Cowie and...

If you haven't checked out the BrideChilla Podcast - you should!  I was lucky enough to be asked back as a guest to talk about  High Impact, Low Cost Wedding Wisdom . Keith Willard is back, and he is bringing stories, strategy, and straight-talk wedding wisdom. Fresh off a marathon stretch of events, Keith shares what that whirlwind taught him about sanity, planning, and what truly matters on...

For this episode we are going off topic.  I was lucky enough to do a bucket list trip.  Two weeks starting in Jordan, and then cruising down the Nile in Egypt.   I met this amazing podcaster on the trip and of course we had to do a podcast about the trip.  To hear more about river cruises and travel - please check out River Cruising Masterclass Podcast by Sydney Schellinger or follow this link: ht...

Dawn Diehl has been a part of this historic South Florida tradition for over thirty years and now captains this vessel.  We will speak with her about what it takes to put on this massive production that is seen every year by over a million people and impacts the local economy by a whooping fifty million dollars.  We will also dive into her own cruise and what else is rocking the boat and making wa...

Behind The Veil Podcast - The Real Weddings Study from The Knot This week we welcome Tom Chelednik - The Associate Director of Vendor Engagement of North America to talk about the recently released "Real Weddings Study" from The Knot.  In The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study, we discover how couples are bringing this exciting day to life through the entire planning process.  The wedding rep...

The Knot Worldwide 2025 Wedding Trends Watch Report.   This weeks guest: Tom Chelednik - Associate Director of Vendor Engagement of North America. This years report is wide ranging with data captured from thousands of couples about what they are looking at, where they are looking at, who they are looking, and why they are looking.  It's a plethora of knowledge that will help vendors and coupl...

Behind The Veil: The Art of The Hustle    "The Art of the Hustle" often refers to the skill and finesse required to navigate the world of business and entrepreneurship successfully. It's about more than just hard work; it's about strategy, perseverance, adaptability, and sometimes a touch of charm. The "hustle" implies a relentless drive to achieve goals, overcome obs...

Behind The Veil - Founder and CEO of Honeyfund Sara margulis Our guest this week: Sara Margulis, Co-founder and CEO Honeyfund.com, Inc. Honeyfund is the Go-To website for couples wanting to provide a whole array of gifting options. How she got started and the trends she is seeing will be just be one of many things we will talk about! Sara is an enthusiastic champion of love and travel. As co-found...

We all think "How cool would it be to work with celebrities and athletes" but have zero idea of how to get in front of them.  And once we book them, what are they truly like to work with. Our guest today: Randy Long Randy Long is the owner of The Pix Squad, a professional event photography company specializing in corporate gatherings, golf outings and charity galas. The Pix Squad’s Mobil...

This week we dive into what it takes to get published on The Knot, and we hear directly from the source!  Esther Lee is the Deputy Editor for The Knot Online and In Print. Whether you are a couple or a vendor, getting your wedding published is like winning first prize in the wedding world.  The most visable location is The Knot.  Known worldwide as the go to source for all things weddings, having...

Word of mouth is the most effective way of getting your name out there - so how do you do that? Our Guest: Carin Hunt Carin Hunt, CEO of Celebration Pros, leads a dynamic community of ambitious wedding professionals determined to break through their glass ceiling of doubts and achieve the success they so desire and deserve.  With her innovative Champagne Logic approach, Carin collaborates with cli...

Behind The Veil: The Knot Real Weddings Study and Budgeting The Knot and Wedding Wire are the main sources that couples use for finding and booking vendors.  it is also where many of them go to get their information.  Find out where they get their numbers and more! Our guest: Tom Chelednik, North America Director of Vendor Engagement, The Knot Worldwide Tom Chelednik, North America Director of Ven...

Behind the Veil: luxury lifestyle concierge The most valuable asset we posses is time. When planning a wedding, a honeymoon, or any escape, having a someone to take care of every detail could be immeasurable! Our Guest: Shauna Norton - Founder of Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life) Known for her attention to detail, she stands as the owner of a thriving Lifestyle Concierge service. With a proven track rec...

Ever want to know what really goes on behind the scenes on "Say Yes To The Dress"?  Or wish you could ask a burning question to one of the stars about your wedding dress?  This coming Tuesday is your chance! This week we welcome the amazing Monte Durham - one of the stars from TV's Say Yes To The Dress Atlanta. Finding the right dress has never been easy for most brides.  The idea o...

Being a wedding planner - The good the bad and the not so pretty When you tell someone that you are an event and wedding planner, most think they know what you do.  In reality, there is so much more to, and the job is different for every client. Our Guest: Marina Luri-Clark Marina Luri-Clark is the owner and creative director at Marina Luri Events, an event planning & design company with offic...

Bringing Flair & Excitement to Your Wedding From Down Under Every couple always seems to look for something to make their wedding standout.  Sometimes this can include going back to basics, such as having an MC guide your night. Meet Nathan Cassar, Australia's Premier Award-Winning MC - specializing in truly unforgettable events that always leave a lasting impression. Based in Sydney, Nat...

The value of a wedding planner for DIY couples Planning a wedding is no easy task, even for the best DIY couples. But if you are really Doing It Yourself, do you really need a wedding planner too?  And for planners - How do you show the value of hiring a planner to a couple? Our guest today: Cassie LaMere Blending a lifelong passion for exceptional event curation with a keen eye for detail, Cassie...

Behind The Veil: Your Trending in 2024! Weddings are usually the first place where the latest trend is going to make its appearance.  Our guest today is a source for truly what is trending and what you should be prepping for! Our guest - Nicole Ettenhofer About Nicole Ettenhofer Nicole Ettenhofer is the VP of Growth & Strategy for George Street Photo & Video, a national wedding photo and v...

Season is back with a vengeance!  So are the long hours that come with it.  From working with existing clients, to onboarding new clients, to finding clients at all... It can all become overwhelming. Our guest today: Carissa Kruse / Carissa Cruse Weddings Carissa is a wedding industry maven and a marketing and conversion strategist.  She works with overworked wedding professionals to increase thei...

Writing, and then speaking, wedding vows can be a stressful experience.  What happens if you can't figure out how you feel, or fear speaking in front of an audience.  It is already a high stress day, and now add this to the whole experience. Our guest today is Tanya Pushkine Tanya Pushkine was born and raised in Brussels, Belgium to an American-born musical conductor and German/Belgian painte...

AV is needed at every single wedding.  For most, they will reach out to a DJ or entertainment company when needing to book a sound system or music.  What should you know before you start reaching out? A little knowledge can save you big money! Our Guest today: Damon Russell Damon has been in the wedding industry since 2003 and likes to think that he is a pioneer. In 2007, wireless LED technology d...

This week we speak to the founder of Heritage Park Hospitality Group.  The company behind the management of some of the most sought after locations in the Florida Keys. Doug Barrow is the founder of Heritage Park Hospitality Group, a full service boutique management and investment group with a vision for the future of hotel stays and travel. He has always shared an eye for detail and a passion for...

Finding the right photographer is a daunting process.  Especially since they are going to be in your personal space on your wedding day.  What should you be asking, and how do you know if they are telling the truth? Our guest: Bonnie Sindelar  Bonnie lives in Nebraska and is the founder of two companies: Genesis Photography and Happily Ever Photo. She founded Genesis Photography 9 years ago, and w...

When planning a wedding, couples and vendors, do not typically want to dive into legalities.  But in this day and age, it is more important than ever to protect yourself, as the couple and as the vendor. Our guest today is both a successful planner and a lawyer!  Leah Weinberg is well known throughout the industry as a true event professional, but recently Leah has decided to go back to her roots...